A devastating police error meant a South Yorkshire family spent Christmas and New Year mourning their teenage son, only to discover weeks later he was alive in hospital.
A Tragic Misidentification
South Yorkshire Police (SYP) informed the family of 17-year-old Trevor Wynn that he had been killed in a serious collision on Todwick Road in Rotherham on 13 December. The force stated that Trevor and a girl of the same age had died, while an 18-year-old, Joshua Johnson, was believed to be under sedation in hospital with injuries.
The Wynn family, accepting this information as fact, entered a period of profound grief, enduring the festive season under the shadow of their loss.
The Astonishing Discovery
The situation changed dramatically on Sunday, 4 January 2026. According to Sky News correspondent Emma Birchley, new information came to light when the injured teenager in hospital regained consciousness.
"It's being reported that that information was, in fact, the patient waking up and saying, 'I'm Trevor'," Birchley said. This statement triggered immediate further identification checks and forensic tests by the police.
The results confirmed a heartbreaking reversal of the original account. The young man in hospital was, in fact, Trevor Wynn receiving treatment for serious injuries. Tragically, it was 18-year-old Joshua Johnson who had lost his life in the crash.
Police Response and Investigation
Assistant Chief Constable Colin McFarlane described the mistake as "a huge shock to everyone" and recognised the "additional trauma" caused to both families. The Wynn family had believed their son was dead, while the Johnson family had been under the impression their son was injured in hospital.
In a formal statement, SYP said: "We are absolutely committed to understanding how this happened so it cannot happen again." The force has taken the significant step of referring itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) and pledged full cooperation with the subsequent investigation.
Specialist support services have been offered to both families. ACC McFarlane has also offered to meet the parents personally, acknowledging they will have many unanswered questions.
In connection with the fatal collision, an 18-year-old was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. A 19-year-old was also arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice. Both individuals have been released on bail pending further inquiries.
The police concluded their statement by relaying a request from the families involved, asking the public for privacy as they process the devastating turn of events.
